The Fine Grind offers a live music show Wednesday and Friday eveningS featuring local musicians.
Interested in performing? Apply HERE
Open Mic is open to all musicians. Just show up ready to perform!
2024 WEDNESday Night
5:30-7:30 pm
live music schedule*
3/27 – JOHN HICKS
4/3 – JOE FRAME
4/10 - BOB MESSANO
4/17 - JONAH KLEITSCH
4/24 - BRISSOL
5/1 - JOE FRAME
5/8 - JOHN HICKS
5/15 - BEN SHOOTER
5/22 - ROCKY ROCCO
5/29 - BOB MESSANO
6/5 - GREG SCHMIDT
6/12 - KEVIN DEFEO
2024 FRIday Night
7:00-9:00 pm
live music schedule*
3/29 – BEN MORSSS
4/5 - BEN SHOOTER
4/12 - BOB NICHOLSON
4/19 - DIANE POLLEDRI
4/26 - JON MENGES TRIO
5/3 - HOME FOLK
5/10 - MIKE CONAWAY
5/17 - BRISSOL
5/24 - DIANE POLLEDRI
5/31 - JONAH KLEITSCH
6/7 - JOHN HICKS
6/14 - SECONDARY LOCATION
*schedule subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.
Our Musicians
ANDREW NIEPORENT
Folk-infused singer-songwriter. Solo but increasingly band and collaboration oriented. Mostly acoustic but electric-curious. Host of The Fine Grind Open Mic Night. Hardcore fan of Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens, Tom Waits, and Conor Oberst. Flattered to sometimes be aurally mistaken for John Darnielle, Colin Meloy, and Jeff Mangum.
BEN MORSSS
Ben is a classically trained pianist with a doctorate in music composition. But he’s also spent much time playing in obscure, arty punk and indie rock bands. He also played with bands like Cake and Wheatus, and his indie pop band, Onward Chariots, toured Europe twice and placed a song on British TV. His piano playing was used in the movies Sidewalks of New York and L.I.E. He’s also written musicals about activists and Steve Jobs, not to mention two based on the Angelina Ballerina TV show. He even arranged the music for the stage version of Trey Parker's Cannibal! The Musical. These days, Ben records with Ancient Babies for NJ label Mint 400 Records, and he writes pop song analyses and records videos for Rock Theory and Soundfly.
Ben Shooter
NJ/NYC singer-songwriter Ben Shooter hates being pinned down to one genre. He’s been performing solo and with various bands since he was a teen, and has a wide appreciation for all kinds of music. When it comes to his solo work, Shooter prefers the following blend: 80s new-wave instrumentation, the hard-hitting drums and guitars of classic rock, and his own country tinged acoustic guitar and lyrical voice underlying it all. In February 2024, Shooter released his most recent single “Iced Coffee (The Country Life)”, a song inspired by "cosmic American" country influences like Gram Parsons and Kacey Musgraves. Shooter also performs, writes, and records with NYC gothic-pop band Her Dark Heaven, Jersey City psych-rock act Sir Synthesis, and Montclair pop singer Natalie Lucas.
Bob Nicholson
Singer/songwriter Bob Nicholson has been performing “American Acoustic” music throughout the tri-state area. From his first appearance on “Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour” in 1965, Bob has performed in various popular local bands and as a soloist either opening or headlining with artists including Sloan Wainwright, The Kennedys, and Cliff Eberhardt among others.
Bob continues to play every show with the same passion and emotion sharing with his audience. In addition to his music, Bob's live shows include his unique interpretations of the classic "boomer" hits from the 60's and 70's for a memorable night of reminiscing and entertainment not to be missed.
LINKS: YOUTUBE
Brissol
Brissol brings his experiences to life with catchy melodies, engaging lyrics and a diverse acoustic guitar style that uniquely combines his various musical influences.
Whether deeply personal or care free and playful, his songs share the common thread of being relatable and convey a message of hopefulness.
Viewing music as a gift that is most authentically expressed when at its most vulnerable, Brissol continues to take great pleasure honing his craft in the time honored tradition of the singer-songwriter.
Bryan Yurcan
Bryan Yurcan is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who plays solo, as part of a duo, and with full bands at venues around north and central Jersey. (Yes, Central Jersey exists!) His music evokes a suburban pastoral quality, with a focus on how our present influences the recollection of our past. Originally from Queens, NY, Bryan now resides in Morris County, and considers himself an adopted son.
Diane Polledri / “Aloft Trio”
Diane Polledri is a local singer songwriter whose music ranges from folk to songs from the Great American Songbook and jazz. She cites Tom Waits, Emmylou Harris, Antje Duvekot, and Hoagie Carmichael as her greatest influences and has been fortunate to study songwriting with Ellis Paul, Vance Gilbert, Tracy Grammer, Antje Duvekot, and Abbie Gardner.
JOE FRAME
Joe Frame often performs as a solo guitarist. His wide-reaching repertoire frequently draws from the music of the late Brazilian master Antonio Carlos Jobim, whose sophisticated rhythms, memorable melodies, and lush jazz harmonies created that musical genre now known as bossa nova. His meticulously developed arrangements, which emphasize the harmonic content of each piece he performs, are the result of his studies with legendary acoustic jazz guitarists Charlie Byrd and Gene Bertoncini. He also performs original pieces which meld the influences of his various musical interests: Brazilian, Classical, Gypsy-Jazz, and the Great American Songbook.
JOHN HICKS
A native of North Carolina, John Hicks is a singer-songwriter living in Hackettstown. His original songs are inspired by personal stories and a keen look at the ironies of everyday life. John counts among his many influences Jeffrey Foucault, Jeff Tweedy, Jason Isbell and The Stanley Brothers along with songwriting studies with Peter Mulvey and Anne Hills. He offers audiences sets combining originals with interpretations of songs by Americana and contemporary folk artists. A member of the New York Songwriters Circle, he has appeared at venues from New Jersey to Maine including The Bitter End in New York City and Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs.
LINKS: SOUNDCLOUD YOUTUBE INSTAGRAM
jon menges
Rooted deeply in the vibrant pulse of jazz, Jon Menges and his group stand as a testament to the timeless allure of eclectic mélange of standards, jazz classics, and original compositions, resonating with the heartbeat of mainstream jazz.
This versatile trio has left indelible impressions across the city’s music scene. Their performances are an integral part of the ambiance in numerous cafes, bars, restaurants, and bookstores.
Leading the ensemble is Jon Menges, a multitalented artist who is equally skilled as a trumpet player as he is a composer, arranger, and music copyist. These skills, honed over years in the vibrant Chicago music scene, have allowed him to share the stage with luminaries like Cab Calloway, Lou Rawls, Neil Sadaka, Leslie Uggams, Joel Gray, Jim Nabors, Freddie Cole, and Jon Faddis.
JONAH KLEITSCH
Hello, my name is Jonah and I am an up-and-coming New Jersey musician. I have been playing around the state ever since I got out of high school and I am simply loving bringing my music to all of you. I am heavily influenced by soul, r&b, rock, blues, and jazz music, hints of all these are present in my original material. Truly, nothing else is like being able to share the happiness, the sadness, the joy, and the hurt with you (yes you) and I hope to keep doing it as long as you will allow me. Thank you!
LINKS: INSTAGRAM
Larisssa Lovejoy
Larissa Lovejoy is a classically trained vocalist and musician from Nutley, NJ. She began studying voice at the age of 8 and was hooked from the first moment. After years of participating in local and statewide musical ensembles, she got her degree in Vocal Performance and Jazz Studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she garnered many awards. She has performed all over the U.S. including an engagement with the Voices of the Pops in Philadelphia, and as a soloist at Carnegie Hall in NYC. After fronting a blues and classic rock band for 5 years, Larissa decided to switch gears and embark on a solo adventure performing a variety of country, folk, and pop songs while accompanying herself on keyboard and ukulele. Larissa resides with her wife and puppy in Morris County
LINKS: FACEBOOK
Mike Conaway
Mike Conaway is a one-man band based out of central New Jersey that performs original music. He has been writing and playing music since he was a teenager. Recently, he recorded and released his first full length album in 2021 titled “Fail. Reflect. Learn. Grow.”, which can be found on Spotify.
Mike writes songs based on life experiences and things that inspire him. The style of his music fits somewhere between alternative and indie rock with a focus on meaningful and emotive lyrics. When performing live, he loops electric and acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and synths to create vast arrays of sounds and textures. Expect something new at every show!
Ralph “Fuff” Pedicini
A New Jersey-bred Singer, Songwriter, and Street Taco Maverick with a penchant for Tall Tales, Long Hikes, Loud Laughter, and Big Hugs. Fuff seasoned his skills during his troubadour days, busking for spare change and free beer, while following the Grateful Dead countless times across the country and back. Nowadays you can find Fuff spreading his Homefolk Music in the café and songwriter circles throughout the Northern NJ and Washington DC areas.
Look for Homefolk Music when you’re craving good vibes, silly stories, and belly laughs.
LINKS: CONTACT US INSTAGRAM
ROCKY ROCCO
Singer/songwriter who loves ripped jeans and catchy choruses.
LINKS: INSTAGRAM
Wildflowers
Wildflowers is a father daughter duo out of Clifton, NJ. The two started out just ‘performing’ in their basement in 2019, figuring out their sound and what they wanted to do with it. Eventually, they decided to combine a variety of genres like classic rock, folk, and pop.
Tom is an engineer who has been playing music for as long as he can remember.
Maura is a seventh grade teacher with a love of music and especially Dolly Parton. She credits her parents with her love of a variety of music.
Deciding to form their own group has been one of the best decisions they have made and they’re so excited to perform in front of an audience that isn’t a relative.
Ziggy Grover
Ziggy Grover is a singer-songwriter from Allendale, New Jersey. Beginning their career performing various rock and jazz bands as well as classical ensembles while attending school, Ziggy's open mind was already bringing in an array of eclectic influences.
By the time they were in college, Ziggy fashioned a musical style which saw them in the role of wanderer. It was in this vast life frequenting the local coffee houses, art museums, barcade, and Rocky Horror floorshow, Ziggy honed their craft with narratives containing reflections, hopes, and fears.
Since making their way through the New Jersey Open Mic stages, Ziggy has released two albums and three EP's worth of music that take from all walks of life. Now, they hope their stories have listeners learning and loving all over again.